Electrical socket

ABSTRACT

An electrical socket device incorporating at least one spool constructed to receive the prongs of an electrical plug. The spool is rotationally displaceable and coacts with the remainder of the socket structure such that the plug prongs can be locked in place upon suitable rotational displacement of the spool, and this for the purpose of providing direct electrical connection as between the plug prongs and the electrical terminals or contact of a socket construction. A socket construction is made such that there is no electrical connection as between the plug prongs and the socket electrical contacts until the prongs of a particular plug are inserted in the aforementioned rotatable spool and the spool depressed and rotated. The construction affords many safety features for children so that metal items, inadvertently positioned through the prong holes of the spool, cannot make electrical connection until after the spool is both depressed and rotationally displaced.

United States Patent Farnworth 1 June6, 1972 [54] ELECTRICAL SOCKET IvanA. Farnworth, 441 South State, Orem, Utah 84057 Jan. 25, 1971 [72]Inventor:

[22] Filed:

- 21 Appl.No.: 109,097

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Denmark ..339/4lFrance ..339/4l Primary ExaminerMarvin A Champion AssistantExaminerl'errell P. Lewis AttorneyM. Ralph Shaffer ABSTRACT Anelectrical socket device incorporating at least one spool constructed toreceive the prongs of an electrical plug. The spool is rotationallydisplaceable and coacts with the remainder of the socket structure suchthat the plug prongs can be locked in place upon suitable rotationaldisplacement of the spool, and this for the purpose of providing directelectrical connection as between the plug prongs and the electricalterminals or contact of a socket construction. A socket construction ismade such that there is no electrical connection as between the plugprongs and the socket electrical contacts until the prongs of aparticular plug are inserted in the aforementioned rotatable spool andthe spool depressed and rotated. The construction affords many safetyfeatures for children so that metal items, inadvertently positionedthrough the prong holes of the spool, cannot make electrical connectionuntil after the spool is both depressed and rotationally displaced.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 10F 2 FIG. 2

FIG, 3

INVENTOR,

IVAN A. FARNWORTH ATTCRMEY FIGS PATENTEDJUN 6 m2 3, 5 07 SHEET 2 OF 2"I'll/Ill 5: l A] ELECTRICAL SOCKET The present invention relates toelectrical sockets constructed to receive the prongs of electrical plugsand, more particularly, to a new and improved electrical socketincorporating a number of safety features relative to use in thisposition of the socket both for children and adults.

In the past, a number of different types of electrical sockets have beendevised over the years. The standard electrical socket in homes andoffices, for example, incorporates a fixed socket constructed to receivethe prongs of an electrical plug in a straightforward manner. Theconventional socket has no movable parts; rather, the electricalcontacts of a socket are disposed immediately behind the prong holes ofthe socket.

The difficulty as to small children is the change of metal objects beinginadvertently inserted by a child in one or both of the prong holes ofthe socket. Since, by virtue of the design of the socket, a directelectrical connection will thereby be made, serious injury and evendeath can be chanced to the childs inadvertent, playful use thereof.

Manufacturers heretofore have sensed this difficulty and certain oneshave provided for a rotational plate which must be rotated in order forthe prong to be inserted through aligned prong holes into the U orV-shaped contacts of the socket. But this operation is easilyaccomplished by a child through the use of hairpins or nails and othermetallic objects. Hence, the degree of safety provided such sockets isnot the best.

The inventor has conceived and herein discloses a new and usefulelectrical socket wherein the electrical prongs of an electrical cordplug, even though inserted through the prong holes of a socket, at aspool area designed therefore, will not make electrical connection.Rather, it is necessary both to depress the spool and subsequently torotationally displace the same in order that the prongs can makeelectrical connection with the socket. In the invention, in a preferredembodiment thereof, means are provided for locking the prongs intoelectrical connection upon rotational displacement of a socket spool,which locking effect can be released only through a subsequentdepression of the spool and a reverse or counterrotation thereofrelative to the remainder of the socket structure. In one embodimentshown, cogwheels are provided so that the individual protrusions thereofcan selectively engage and lock the plug prongs at the customary holesprovided at the tips thereof.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide anew and useful electrical socket.

An additional object is to provide an electrical socket for receivingthe prongs of the end plugs of electrical cords, such socket exhibitinga maximum of safety features.

An additional object of the invention is to provide inner electricalsocket means for releasably locking in place the inserted prongs ofelectrical plugs.

An additional object is to provide an electrical socket pro vided with aprong receiving spool means, the latter being constructed to receive theelectrical prongs of the plug, and the spool means being constructedwith the remainder of the socket such that solely depression of thespool and subsequent rotation of the displacement thereof will enablethe plug prongs of enter into electrical contact with the electricalterminals of the socket.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical sockethaving means for releasably locking in place the apertured prongs of theconventional electrical plug.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of socket structure constructed inaccordance with the present invention; for convenience of illustrationthe rotationally displaceable spool disposed at the upper half of thesocket construction is deleted, this to illustrate representative,electrical prong receiving means.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the structure of FIG. 1 and istaken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1; for convenience of illustration thespool is deleted from the upper half of the structure and is broken awayand sectioned at the lower half of the structure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken along the line 33 in FIG.2, and illustrates in horizontal configuration the horizontalelectrical-contact detent for the spool electrical contact;additionally, there is shown the canted, non-conductive or neutraldetents for such contact of the spool, used thereby before the spool isrotationally displaced from its neutral position.

FIG. 4 is a view, principally in schematic form, of a subject socketconstruction indicating the construction and disposition of theelectrical terminals of the socket and so structure coacting therewith.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of astructure of FIG. 2, being a representative portion of the double socketconstruction, wherein is shown the insertion of an electrical plug withinner structures such that the prongs thereof may be locked inelectrically conductive disposition.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5, but illustrates that after the spool of thesocket had been depressed and turned, the same may be released forlocking engagement of the prongs of the plug and for a receding of thedetent of the spool.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, principally shown in section and taken onthe line 8-8 in FIG. 7, illustrating the manner in which the plug prongsbecome lockingly disposed in releasable engagement with the electricalcontact of the socket.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a device essentially identical to thestructure of FIGS. 1 through 4, but now with the inclusion of additionalelectrical contact such that the socket may be used as an adaptor,plugging into an existing socket and provided with a case for anencompassing disposition thereover.

In FIG. 1 housing-half 10 is provided with upper and lower, circularindentations 11 and 12 which are dimensioned to receive and permit therotational displacement of respective ones of the prong-receiving disks13 of respective spools 14. For convenience of illustration, one of thespools is shown in FIG. 2, namely, at the lowermost half of thestructure. It will be understood that an equivalent spool 14 will alsobe installed at the upper half proximate region 11.

Spool 14 is also provided with flange l6 and a shaft 15, journaled byhousing-half central portion J. Each of the shafts 15 will be providedwith an electrically conductive shorting bar 17 extending on oppositesides of shaft 15 and proximate flange 16in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

Housing-half 10 is provided with a semi-circular seat 18 at each of twoplaces as indicated in FIG. 2, which seat receives a compression spring19 backing flange 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates in diagramatic form a composite terminal 20 which isprovided in a doubled-back configuration such that portion 21 thereofselectively engages in a conductive manner, the bar 17 of spool 14. Itis noted that bar 17, integral with spool 14, serves not only as anelectrical contact, but as a positioning means for the spool in a mannerhereinafter described. In this regard, the contact 20, at portion 21 isconfigured to have a recess or detent 22 which selectively receives anopposite arm of the electrical bar 17.

It is noted that the left housing-half 22, when secured to the righthousing 10 in the manner hereinafter described, will make contact withflange portion 23 of terminal 20 such that terminal 24 thereof, moldedinto left-hand housing 20, will provide a hot or positive connection forelectricity supplied the unit. This is indicated by the plus" mark inFIG. 4.

If desired, each of the housing halves l0 and 20 of housing I-I may beprovided with third prong, green ground terminal halves 25 and 26, whichcome together in a manner shown in FIG. 1. These terminal halves 25 and26 are of course conductive and co-act with the third prong in a mannershown in FIG. 6 when the plug is initially inserted and, as seen in FIG.8,

when the plug is rotated for prong engagement in a manner as hereinafterdescribed. Third prong P is illustrated by the letter P in FIGS. 6 and8.

A grounded terminal 29 includes an outer flange contact 30 and also aninner vertical member 31 provided with pivot means such as pins orrivets 32. The latter pivot respective cogwheels 33 in a manner shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. Thus, the single grounded terminal 2 1 provides thecogwheels 33 at both upper and lower halves of the housing on therighthand side thereof.

A corresponding construction is had in connection with housing half 20wherein formed terminal 34 is provided with respective pivots 35 andcogwheels 36 pivotally secured thereto. The inner flange 37 of terminal33 likewise includes an indentation at 38 for cooperatively engaging thecontact 17 as in the case of portion 21 as heretofore described.

Thus, there will exist two cogwheels for each section of the combinedhousing R, one cogwheel on the left and another on the right.

Contacts 29 and 33 also include, proximate to cogwheels, respectivefingers F which co-act with the remainder of the contact structure as toprovide a receiving slot S. These receiving slots respectively receivethe respective prongs of a plug. It is to be observed that commonhousehold electrical prongs of electrical plugs include holes proximatetheir extremities. See FIG. 5, by way of example, in connection with theholes H provided prongs T of plug V.

The operation of the structures thusfar described is as follows:

The two spools 14 will be installed in the manner shown relative to thelower spool 14 in FIG. 2, and this in conjunction with the respectivecompression springs 18. At this point the two housings l and will besecured together as by means of attachment means such as a screw and nutcombination as seen in FIG. 9. The attachments here will simply belabeled as A. These attachments will procede through the common aperture39, see FIG. 2, associated with each of the housing halves.

With electricity being supplied as shown by the plus and minus signs inFIG. 4, the plug unit will be available for use. It is noted that in theabsence of the insertion of a plug, then the respective compressionsprings will press outwardly the respective spools 14. Upon such acondition the bar 17 will be disposed in a mutual non-conductiverecesses N which are formed in the respective housing halves.

At this point the outer disks of the respective spools 14 will be in aposition as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 1. Upon the userinserting the prongs of a plug V into prong slots 40, then he is in aposition, after depressing the spool against its spool, to rotationallydisplace in a clock-wise direction the respective disk and spool. Thus,as the prongs are inserted in the slots 40 and the plug urged forwardlyso as to compress spring 19, then the contact bar 17 comes out ofengagement with the recesses or detents N of FIG. 3 so that theassociated spool can be rotationally displaced in a clock-wisedirection. Then the user will so rotate the spool such that the prongscome into engagement with the respective cogwheels 33.

Provision for alignment relative to the holes H and prongs of the plugand a respective cog of the cogwheel may be provided for by enlarginglengthwise the dimension of the cogwheel pivots and also by reducingsize of the lugs or cogs relative to the holes in the prongs. In anyevent, once a final release is had relative to the plug, then thecompression springs will urge the disk portions of the respective spoolsoutwardly such that there will be a positive engagement of the cogs orlugs L cogwheel relative to the holes in the prongs. Thus, the prongs ofthe plug V are positively locked in position as the ends of these prongsare disposed within slots S.

FIG. 6 illustrates the configuration at the time of prong insertion, andFIG. 8 illustrates a configuration wherein the plug has been rotated andpressure released so that the prongs of the plug V are positivelyengaged by the cogwheels so that these cannot be inadvertentlywithdrawn.

The structure shown in FIG. 9 is essentially identical to the structureillustrated in the previous figures, with the exception that the same isnow designed as an adapter for an existing wall plug installation. Thus,a pair of contacts 41, 42 and an additional pair of contacts 43 and 44may be provided for insertion in the standard plug receptacles of aconventional wall installation. These contacts are configured in amanner illustrated in FIG. 9, with the forward ends at E thereof beingsecured as by screws W to the housing halves l0 and 20. Thus, thesecontacts will engage their respective positive and negative sides of thehousing, see the plus and minus indications in FIG. 4, so that acomplete, electrically powered receptical housing is provided. It isnoted that where third or green ground prong plugs are used, thenadditional terminals 44 and 45 may be required to complete theconstruction. In such an event, there will be rearwardly orientedprotrusions 46 and 47 for insertion into the green ground" or thirdprong holes of the plug. In such event, the green ground contacts as in25 and 26 in FIG. 2 will simply be bent over and the hole eliminated sothat contact halves 25 and 26 are engaged through rearward extremity ofcontact 44. Contact 45 will be constructed in the same manner, as willbe green ground contact connections thereto.

Once the unit is installed in place to a conventional wall receptacle,then the cover C need only be provided with the conventional cover platescrew deleted; substituted for the latter will be a longate screw Swhich will be threaded into the conventional hole of a conventional wallplug receptical. Hence, the coverplate C encloses the plug unit, shownin exploded view relative to the cover plate C in FIG. 9.

In other regards, the structure shown in FIG. 9 operates identically tothat shown and heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 1 through8. The cover plate C will be apertured to accornodate, of course, therotatable spools. For convenience of reference as to the claims,terminals 29 and 33, and composite terminal 20, shall hereafter bereferred to as first, second, and third terminals, respectively.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An electrical socket including a housing; a socket spool jounaled insaid housing for rotational displacement, said socket spool including adisk, a flange, and a shaft interconnecting said disk and flange, saiddisk being provided with prong-receiving apertures and being constructedto permit the prongs of an external plug to pass therethrough andprotrude therebeyond, said housing having a first terminal provided withan external connection and also second and third terminals, said firstand second terminals being positioned to respectively engage said prongsupon rotational displacement of said spool away from its normal,inactive position and into its electrically operative position; andelectrically conductive shorting bar affixed to said spool proximate thejuncture of said shaft and said flange, a compression spring disposedbetween said housing and said flange, said shorting bar and saidterminals being constructed and arranged such that, in the absence ofspool depression and rotational dispencement, said shorting bar isdisposed out of engagement with said second and third temiinals, butupon depression of said spool, as through plug insertion therein, andsubsequent rotational displacement of said spool such that said prongsassume a position of alignment with said first and second terminals,respectively, followed by release of said spool, said shorting barassumes a position across said second and third terminals and, under thespring pressure of said compression spring against said flange, engagessaid second and third temiinals to complete electrical connectiontherebetween, said third terminal also having an external connection.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a pairof separable, electrically connected terminal member, one of saidterminal members including said external connection of said thirdterminal.

3 Stnicture according to claim 1 wherein said first and second terminalsinclude oppositely extending fingers defining oppositely extending slotsfor receiving respective ones of said prongs of said external plug.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes acentral portion provided with first and second detent means cooperablewith said shorting bar, said first detent means being positioned toreceive said shorting bar when said spool is in its normal electricallyinactive position, said second detent means being positioned to receivesaid shorting bar when said spool is in its electrically activeposition, said second and third terminals extending into said seconddetent means for selective coaction with said shorting bar.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said spool includes anaperture for receiving a green ground prong of an external electricalplug, said housing having a green ground terminal positioned forcooperative engagement with said green ground prong.

6. Structure according to claim I wherein said housing includes a pairof socket prong extensions respectively connected to said first andsecond terminals, comprising said extemal connections and extending tothe rear of said housing, for plug-in connection to an installed socket.

7. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said first and secondterminals each include respective cogwheels joumaled thereto forreleasably locking said prongs in place.

8. Structure according to claim 5 wherein housing includes a pair ofsocket prong extensions respectively connected to said first and secondterminals, comprising said external connections and extending to therear of said housing, for plug-in connection to an installed socket,said housing also including an electrically conductive extensionconnected to said green ground terminal and extending rearwardly of saidhousing, for plug-in connection to said installed socket.

9. An electrical socket including, in combination an electricallyinsulative housing, an insulative spool joumaled for rotation in saidhousing, said spool being provided with prongreceiving apertures, springmeans for urging said spool outwardly, said housing having a pair ofelectrical terminals, said terminals each being provided with rotatablemeans for releasably locking the prongs of an external plug torespective ones of said terminals upon the rotational displacement ofsaid spool, and one of said terminals including a medial, shorting barsegment keyed to said spool.

1. An electrical socket including a housing; a socket spool jounaled insaid housing for rotational displacement, said socket spool including adisk, a flange, and a shaft interconnecting said disk and flange, saiddisk being provided with prongreceiving apertures and being constructedto permit the prongs of an external plug to pass therethrough andprotrude therebeyond, said housing having a first terminal provided withan external connection and also second and third terminals, said firstand second terminals being positioned to respectively engage said prongsupon rotational displacement of said spool away from its normal,inactive position and into its electrically operative position; andelectrically conductive shorting bar affixed to said spool proximate thejuncture of said shaft and said flange, a compression spring disposedbetween said housing and said flange, said shorting bar and saidterminals being constructed and arranged such that, in the absence ofspool depression and rotational dispencement, said shorting bar isdisposed out of engagement with said second and third terminals, butupon depression of said spool, as through plug insertion therein, andsubsequent rotational displacement of said spool such that said prongsassume a position of alignment with said first and second terminals,respectively, followed by release of said spool, said shorting barassumes a position across said second and third terminals and, under thespring pressure of said compression spring against said flange, engagessaid second and third terminals to complete electrical connectiontherebetween, said third terminal also having an external connection. 2.Structure according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a pair ofseparable, electrically connected terminal member, one of said terminalmembers including said external connection of said third terminal. 3.Structure according to claim 1 wherein said first and second terminalsinclude oppositely extending fingers defining oppositely extending slotsfor receiving respective ones of said prongs of said external plug. 4.Structure according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a centralportion provided with first and second detent means cooperable with saidshorting bar, said first detent means being positioned to receive saidshorting bar when said spool is in its normal electrically inactiveposition, said second detent means being positioned to receive saidshorting bar when said spool is in its electrically active position,said second and third terminals extending into said second detent meansfor selective coaction with said shorting bar.
 5. Structure according toclaim 1 wherein said spool includes an aperture for receiving a greenground prong of an external electrical plug, said housing having a greenground terminal positioned for cooperative engagement with said greenground prong.
 6. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said housingincludes a pair of socket prong extensions respectively connected tosaid first and second terminals, comprising said external connectionsand extending to the rear of said housing, for plug-in connection to aninstalled socket.
 7. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said firstand second terminals each include respective cogwheeLs journaled theretofor releasably locking said prongs in place.
 8. Structure according toclaim 5 wherein housing includes a pair of socket prong extensionsrespectively connected to said first and second terminals, comprisingsaid external connections and extending to the rear of said housing, forplug-in connection to an installed socket, said housing also includingan electrically conductive extension connected to said green groundterminal and extending rearwardly of said housing, for plug-inconnection to said installed socket.
 9. An electrical socket including,in combination an electrically insulative housing, an insulative spooljournaled for rotation in said housing, said spool being provided withprong-receiving apertures, spring means for urging said spool outwardly,said housing having a pair of electrical terminals, said terminals eachbeing provided with rotatable means for releasably locking the prongs ofan external plug to respective ones of said terminals upon therotational displacement of said spool, and one of said terminalsincluding a medial, shorting bar segment keyed to said spool.